Most drivers confused about vehicle safety technologies: study

Iowa City, IA – Most drivers are uncertain about how to use common vehicle safety technologies, according to a recent study from the University of Iowa.

More than 2,000 adult drivers participated in an in-depth survey as part of the study. Researchers determined that the majority of respondents experienced some level of confusion about vehicle safety features. In the study, 40 percent of participants said their vehicle acted or responded in an unexpected manner at least once.

The safety features with the highest levels of uncertainty among consumers included:

• Adaptive cruise control (65.2 percent)
• Tire pressure monitoring system (45.3 percent)
• Lane departure warning system (35.6 percent)

In response, the university and the National Safety Council launched MyCarDoesWhat.org to educate drivers about the technologies available in their vehicles.

“As technologies like rear-view cameras and lane departure warning systems advance and become more prevalent in the cars we’re driving, there is a tremendous need to improve consumer understanding of these critical safety features,” Daniel McGehee, director of the Transportation and Vehicle Safety Research Division at the UI Public Policy Center, said in a press release.